Wheel type offset disk harrow



Dec. 20, 1966 w, s, T ETAL 3,292,714

WHEEL TYPE OFFSET msx HARROW Original Filed Jul 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1BY DAVID w.

ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1966 w 5, Ts c w ET AL 3,292,714

WHEEL TYPE OFFSET DISK HARROW Original Filed July 1', 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

O N Y TM N M HUO R C T O w m n mT C A M D WW L mm WE Dec. 20,1966 w. s.TSUCHIYA ETAL 3,292,714

WHEEL TYPE OFFSET DISK HARROW 7 Original Filed July 1, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. WILLIAM S. TSUCHIYA EDWIN F. WADELTON y DAVIDW. CAYTON ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1966 Original Filed J w. s. TSUCHIYA ET AL3,292,714

WHEEL TYPE OFFSET DISK HARROW 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 uly 1, 1963 S. TSUCHIYAF. WADELTON BY DAVID W. CAYTON ATTORNEY IN VENTORS.

United States Patent 3,292,714 WHEEL TYPE OFFSET DISK HARROW William S.Tsuchiya and Edwin F. Wadelton, Los

Angeles, and David W. Cayton, Whittier, Calif., assignors to Deere &Company, Moline, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Original applicationJuly 1, 1963, Ser. No. 291,828. Divided and this application Nov. 27,1964, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 172-583) This is a division of application Serial No.291,828, filed July 1, 1963, now abandoned.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements andmore particularly to ground-working implements of the disk harrow type.

The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of anew and improved offset disk harrow having ground-engaging wheelsdisposed between the foreand-aft spaced disk gangs and connected withthe main frame of the harrow so that the ground-engaging wheels movesubstantially vertically relative to the harrow frame so as to maintainthe proper balance in a fore-and-aft direction, both when the harrow isin a working position with the wheels serving as means to gauge thedepth of operation, and when the harrow is in transport with the frameand disk gangs carried in an elevated position.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a connectionbetween the ground wheel mounting means and the front hitch memberwhereby the front end of the hitch member is raised and lowered insubstantially constant relation with respect to the raising and loweringof the ground wheels.

A further novel feature of this invention is the provision of new andimproved means connecting the gang frames with the main frame of theharrow in a manner facilitating shifting the gang relative to the mainframe for changing the lateral position of the gang frames relative tothe main frame and for changing the cutting angle of the gangs.

-A further feature of this invention is the provisionof novel means foradjusting the front hitch member laterally.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means to providefor level front gang penetration in conditions of high thrust.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for lowering theleft portion of the rear gang to have it throw more dirt for a betterfurrow-filling job.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in Which the preferred form of this invention isillustrated.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an offset disk harrow in which theprinciples of this invention have been incorporated, the harrow beingshown in its transport position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the harrow hitch illustratedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the means for adjustably fixing the gangframes to the main frame.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the means by which the ground-engagingwheels are secured to the main frame.

FIG. 5 is a detail view illustrating the means for holding the harrow inits transport position.

FIG. 6 is a detail View illustrating the transport links in theirstorage position.

FIG. 7 shows the leveling blocks in their leveling position.

FIG. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the movement of theground-engaging wheel from its transport position to its workingposition.

In the following description, right-hand and left-hand ice referencesare determined by standing at the rear of the disk harrow and facing thedirection of travel.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the main frame of the disk harrow isindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and comprises aright-hand tubular bar 11 and a lefthand tubular bar 12. Fixed to theframe by means described below are front and rear disk gang indicated at13 and 14, respectively, arranged in diverging relation. To accommodatethe diverging disk gangs, the right-hand frame bar 11 extends somewhatfurther to the rear than the left-hand frame bar 12. The frame bars 11and 12 are rigidly interconnected by cross members 16, 17 and 18, theends of which are fixed in any suitable manner to the fore-and-aftextending bars 11 and 12. The forward ends of the bars 11 and 12 areformed with or carry downwardly extending hitch brackets 21 and 22disposed in lateral registry. The lowermost ends of the brackets 21 and22 carry transverse tubular bushings or bearing sleeves 23 for rockablyreceiving the hitch member 24. The latter comprises a generallyfore-and-aft extending tongue 25, preferably in the form of a tubularbar, the rear end of which is connected with a cross member 26 formedwith outwardly extending trunnions 27 that are rockably received in thebushings 23, and the forward end of which is provided with a clevis 28(FIG. 2).

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the transverse hitch member 26 is providedalong its length with a plurality of pairs of registering apertures 31and the rear end of the hitch bar 25 is rigidly connected to thetransverse bar 26 by means of a pair of upper and lower tongue plates 32having, along their rear edges, apertures adapted to register withselected pairs of apertures 31 and to be fixed to the transverse bar 26by bolts 33. The apertures 31 are so placed that the tongue 25 may beconnected to the central portion of the bar 26 or to the right portionor left portion, as desired. Also, the tongue member 25 may be fixed tothe tongue plates 32 in different positions, by virtue of a forward boltmember 36 that is passed through forward registering opening in theplates 32 and the tongue member 25 and a set of rearward arcuately ar Iranged openings 37 formed in the upper and lower plates 32 adapted toreceive a bolt 38 that extends through the openings 37 and also throughan opening (not shown) in the rear end of the tongue 25.

By virtue of the arrangement just described, the hitch tongue 25 may bedisposed in a central fore-and-aft extending position or in a right-handor left-hand offset position, either by moving the hitch plates 32 onthe transverse hitch bar 26 or by moving the hitch tongue 25 within thehitch plates, or both.

The disc gangs 13 and 14 are arranged in laterally divergingarrangement, as is common in this type of implement. Each gang includesa gang frame 40' (FIG. 1) that is made up of a rectangular. bar 41carrying at spaced points along the bar a plurality of bearing brackets42. Each of the brackets includes a laterally directed section 43 thatis adapted to receive an associated U-bolt 44 that encircles theassociated frame bar 41 and, when clamped thereto, the bearing brackets42 becomes a rigid part of the gang frame 40,

The front and rear portions of the main frame bars 11 and 12 overlie theassociated gang frames 40', as best shown in FIG. 1, and means areprovided for adjustably securing each gang frame to the associated mainframe bars 11 and 12. Four adjustable securing means are employed andeach includes a clamp plate 51 which is fixed to the outer side of eachend of each of the main frame bars 11 and 12, each clamp plate 51, asbest seen in FIG. 3, including offset ends 52 apertured to receivefasteners 53 fixing each clamp plate in place with the central portion51a thereof spaced from the outer face of the associated portion of theframe bar so as to receive the legs of a U-bolt 56 therebetween. TheU-bolt 56 embraces the associated gang frame bar 41 with the ends of theU-bolt 56 extending upwardly through the space between the clamp platesection 5111 and the frame bar. The upper ends of the U-bolt arethreaded and extend through a U-bolt cap 57 and an associated levelingblock 58, also apertured to receive the U-bolt ends. When the nuts 59 onthe end of each U-bolt are tightened, the several parts are securelyfixed in rigid relation, but when the U-bolts are loosened, the gangframes may be shifted laterally relative to the main frame, and also theframes may be shifted fore-and-aft to a limited extent, determined bythe fore-and-aft length of the space between the clamp plate sections51a and the associated main frame bar. Thus, each clamp plate 51, theassociated U-bolt 56 and other parts may be referred to as an angleselector whereby the cutting angle of each disk gang can be increased ordecreased, as desired.

The correct spacing between the clamp plate section 51a and theassociated portion of the frame bar is maintained by means of a bolt 61that extends through each clamp plate 51 and the associated frame barand a spacer (not shown) is disposed about the bolt 61 and between theclamp plate and the frame bar. Each bolt 61, operating in connectionwith a plurality of notches 64 formed in the depending flange of the Ubolt cap 57, serves as angle-indicating rneans, the notched portioncooperating with the associated bolt 61 to indicate one of the threepossible angle settings. Each notched setting will increase or decreasethe cutting angle of the associated gang approximately one and one halfdegrees. Thus the gang frame can be adjusted laterally and be shiftedfore-andaft by raising the gang frames out of engagement with the groundin a manner that will be pointed out below, and by loosening the Ubolts.

Disposed underneath the frame bars 11 and 12 substantially midwaybetween the front and rear gangs 13 and 14 is a pair of laterally spacedapart ground wheels 71 journalled on a transverse axle member 72.According to this invention, wheel mounting means is provided,connecting the ground wheels 71 for substantially vertical adjustmentrelative to the main frame 10, so as to retain the desired balancebetween the ground wheels and the gangs, in respect to whether thewheels are moved up and down for gauging the working depth of the disksor for raising and lowering the disk harrow into and out of transportposition. The wheel mounting means will now be described.

Fixed to the axle member 72 is a pair of generally upwardly extendingarms 73. The main frame bars 11 and 12 carry a pair of brackets 75, eachof which is rigidly fixed to the associated frame bar by a pair ofvertical bolts 76 and transverse bolts 77. Each bracket 75 includes agenerally downwardly and rearwardly extending bracket section 79. Apivot member 81 carried by the lower rear portion of each bracket 75receives an associated arm 83, the arms being rigidly interconnected bya cross member 84 so that the arms 83 may be swung upward and downwardlytogether as a unit. The forward ends of the two arms 83 are connected bysuitable Pivot means 85 to the standards 73 at points well above theassociated axle member 72. The forward upper portion of each of thewheel mounting brackets 75 is provided with a laterally inwardlyextending hub (not shown) that serves as a journal receiving the end ofa lift axle 89 extending between the associated frame bars 11 and 12.Arms 91 are fixed to the end portions of the lift axle 89 and extendgenerally downwardly and forwardly in forwardly converging relation withrespect to the lower arms 83. The forward ends of the two upper arms 91are connected to the upper portions of the wheel axle standards 73 bysuitable pivot members 93.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, by virtue of the wheel mounting meansdescribed above, the ground .wheels will move through a substantiallyvertical path when moving from either a transport position or a gaugingposition to the other of said positions, thus maintaining the harrow insubstantial balance about the ground-engaging wheels.

To accommodate different heights of drawbars and.

maintain level operation, means is provided to verticallyl adjust thetongue 25. To accomplish this vertical adjustment an apertured actuatingarm (FIG. 5) is fixed rigidly, as by welding, to the lift axle 89 and alift bar 97,

which is generally parallel to the main frame bars 11, 12, is connectedat its rear end by a detachable pin 98 with the arm 95. The forward endof the liftlink is pivotally connected, as at 101, (FIG. 1), with theupper end of a spring arm 102 which is fixed at its lower end to therear side of the transverse hitch bar 26. The rear portion of thefore-and-aft extending link 97 is provided with a plurality of apertures103 so that the pin 98 may be connected to the link in any one ofseveral points whereby the relationship between the hitch 24 and theground wheels 71 may be varied so as to provide for securing equalpenetration of the front and rear gangs or for transferring weight fromthe front gang to the rear gang, or vice versa, as may be required bydifferent operating conditions. The primary function of the ad justmentat the rear end of the lift bar or link 97 is to keep the main framelevel notwithstanding different heights of the tractor drawbar to whichthe forward end of the hitch bar or tongue 25 is connected.

Power for raising and lowering the ground wheels 71 is derived from ahydraulic cylinder connected between the forward apertured portion of anarm 111 extending downwardly from the lift axle 89 and a forwardconnection 112 (FIGS. 4 and 5) with the adjacent cross member 17. Thecylinder is connected by suitable hose lines with a source of hydraulicpower on the tractor to which the implement is connected.

A pair of transport links 121 may be connected between the rear crossmember 16 and the rear portion of thelift axle arm 111, connectionsbeing made through quick detachable pins 122 whereby when the diskharrow is to be transported the transport links 121 are connected so asto relieve the cylinder 110. In fact, the parts are so constructed andarranged that the cylinder 110 may readily be disconnected under suchcircumstances. The rear end of the transport links 121 are connectedwith the cross member 16 through eye bolt means 125. When the transportlinks are in their idle position the eye bolt may be turned 90 and thetransport links may be swung laterally into a position to be connectedfor storage to an apertured lug 126 on the frame 10, as best shown in.

FIG. 6.

In order to level the disk gangs laterally in certain conditions weprovide a plurality of leveling blocks 58, serving in the nature ofshims. Normally the leveling blocks 58 are carried in their storageposition above the U-bolt caps 57, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, inwhich.

position the blocks 58 serve no leveling function. However in conditionsof high thrust where the leading end of each gang tends to dig in deeperthan the rear end it may be desirable to lower the rear end of each gangrelative to the frame to provide more uniform penetration. Thus, one ortwo leveling blocks, as illustrated in FIG. 7, may be disposed betweenthe main frame bars 11 and 12 and the rear end of each of the gangframes 41 to force the rear ends downwardly to secure more evenpenetration. Also the leveling blocks may be employed at the leftportion of the rear gang to have the rear gang throw more dirt for abetter furrow-filling job.

While we have been shown and described above the preferred structure inwhich the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, itis to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to theparticular details, shown and described above, but that, in fact,

widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broaderaspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An offset disk harrow comprising: a generally fore? and-aft extendingmain frame means, said frame means including laterally spaced apartfore-and-aft extending frame bars overlying a pair of disk gangsarranged in laterally diverging relation, said pair of disk gangs eachincluding gang frame means, and means adjustably fixing each of saidgang frame means to said first-mentioned frame means comprising alongitudinally extending generally U-shaped clamp plate having front andrear outturned leg portions fixed to said frame bars, the bight portionof each plate being spaced from the associated frame bar to provide aU-bolt receiving space, transversely projecting lug means carried bysaid first-mentioned frame means, a U-bolt encircling each end portionof each gang frame means from below and having end portions extendingupwardly between the bight of the associated clamp plate and theadjacent side of the associated frame bar to points above the frame bar,a U-bolt cap apertured to receive the ends of each U-bolt and overlyingthe associated clamp plate and frame bar, and fasteners on said U-boltsacting against each U-bolt cap for clamping the gang frame means to saidframe bars, each of said U-bolt caps being provided with a downwardlydepending portion having a plurality of notches cooperable with saidtransversely projecting lug means to hold said gang frames in selectedpositions of fore-and-aft adjustment, the parts being so arranged andconstructed that when the fasteners are loosened the gang frame meansmay be moved to new positions of lateral and/or foreand-aft adjustmentrelative to said main frame means.

2. The harrow set forth in claim 1 in which leveling blocks are disposedbetween said first-mentioned frame means and the rear end portions ofsaid gang frame means to force the rear ends of the gang frame meansdownwardly to secure more even penetration in high thrust conditions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,895 1/1889Rose 1726OO X 1,084,494 1/1914 Serlachius 172596 2,869,305 1/1959 Murray172328 2,952,325 9/1960 Toland 172596 3,082,830 3/1963 McKay 172328ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Examiner.

F. B. HENRY, R. L. HOLLISTER, Assistant Examiners.

1. AN OFFSET DISK HARROW COMPRISING: A GENERALLY FOREAND-AFT EXTENDINGMAIN FRAME MEANS, SAID FRAME MEANS INCLUDING LATERALLY SPACED APARTFORE-AND-AFT EXTENDING FRAME BARS OVERLYING A PAIR OF DISK GANGSARRANGED IN LATERALLY DIVERGING RELATION, SAID PAIR OF DISK GANGS EACHINCLUDING GANG FRAME MEANS, AND MEANS ADJUSTABLY FIXING EACH OF SAIDGANG FRAME MEANS TO SAID FIRST-MENTIONED FRAME MEANS COMPRISING ALONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GENERALLY U-SHAPED CLAMP PLATE HAVING FRONT ANDREAR OUTTURNED LEG PORTIONS FIXED TO SAID FRAME BARS, THE BIGHT PORTIONOF EACH PLATE BEING SPACED FROM THE ASSOCIATED FRAME BAR TO PROVIDE AU-BOLT RECEIVING SPACE, TRANSVERSELY PROJECTING LUG MEANS CARRIED BYSAID FIRST-MENTIONED FRAME MEANS, A U-BOLT ENCIRCLING EACH END PORTIONOF EACH GANG FRAME MEANS FROM BELOW AND HAVING END PORTIONS EXTENDINGUPWARDLY BETWEEN THE BIGHT OF THE ASSOCIATED CLAMP PLATE AND THEADJACENT SIDE OF THE ASSOCIATED FRAME BAR TO POINTS ABOVE THE FRAME BAR,A U-BOLT CAP APERTURED TO RECEIVE THE ENDS OF EACH U-BOLT AND OVERLYINGTHE ASSOCIATED CLAMP PLATE AND FRAME BAR, AND FASTENERS ON SAID U-BOLTSACTING AGAINST EACH U-BOLT CAP FOR CLAMPING THE GANG FRAME MEANS TO SAIDFRAME BARS, EACH OF SAID U-BOLT CAPS BEING PROVIDED WITH A DOWNWARDLYDEPENDING PORTION HAVING A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES COOPERABLE WITH SAIDTRANSVERSELY PROJECTING LUG MEANS TO HOLD SAID GANG FRAMES IN SELECTEDPOSITIONS OF FORE-AND-AFT ADJUSTMENT, THE PARTS BEING SO ARRANGED ANDCONSTRUCTED THAT WHEN THE FASTENERS ARE LOOSENED THE GANG FRAME MEANSMAY BE MOVED TO NEW POSITIONS OF LATERAL AND/OR FOREAND-AFT ADJUSTMENTRELATIVE TO SAID MAIN FRAME MEANS.